GESSA

Contents

What is GESSA?

The Garland Educational Support Staff Association works to improve the standards of the group through study and professional growth, to promote fellowship, to increase interest in school and community relationships and to render more efficient service to our schools. The group was organized in September 1974 with a membership of 34 support service employees. To date membership is approximately 413. Our organization provides scholarships to graduating seniors at each of the high schools as well as the Garland Evening School. If funds allow, active support staff employees interested in furthering their education are also chosen to receive a scholarship. Membership is open to any support staff employee in the Garland Independent School District until October 15 each year. Dues are set by the Executive Committee.

GESSA Purpose

To improve the standards of the group through study and professional growth, to promote fellowship, to increase interest in school and community relationships. and to render a finer and more efficient service to our schools.

GESSA Mission

Have a paraprofessional and support staff in the Garland Independent School District that enhances the district, in a way that:

communicates effectively to and for the organization

promotes a positive atmosphere within the membership

enlists principal/administrative support through newsletters, building representatives, services provided to the membership

enhances training to include relevant programs and mentoring opportunities

STEM Program

Staff Training for Effective Management (STEM) is a professional development program designed for educational support personnel. The STEM program is sponsored by the Texas Educational Support Staff Association, Inc. (TESA). The program was developed in cooperation with the Texas Education Agency, Texas Association of School Administrators, Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association, Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, Texas Public Community/Junior College Association, University of Texas, and other professional educational associations. The original program was funded through an ECIA, Chapter 2, Section 577 grant.

Program Structure STEM is a three-phase program designed to enhance technical and job-specific skills for educational support personnel. Sessions are hosted by local school districts, colleges, and educational service centers. Certificates of attendance are presented at the end of each STEM session. The TESA Central Office cannot maintain STEM records for nonmembers. While the program is designed to establish a firm foundation of information and to continue to build on that foundation, participants may take the classes in any order and progress toward Certified Educational Office Professional (CEOP) certification.

GISD compensates full-time paraprofessionals who attain their CEOP certification with a stipend of $600 a year (paid monthly), beginning the first check of the next contract year, and for each subsequent year they meet recertification requirements. For more information go to the TESA website and click on “Staff Training for Effective Management”, or contact the current GESSA STEM representative.